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Carolina (English) No 200
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STUDENTS' E-MAIL NEWS FROM CZECH REPUBLIC
Faculty of Social Science of Charles University
Smetanovo nabr. 6
110 01 Prague 1
Czech Republic
e-mail: CAROLINA@cuni.cz
tel: (+42 2) 24810804, ext. 252, fax: (+42 2) 24810987
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
C A R O L I N A No 200, Friday, April 26, 1996.
FROM THE EVENTS OF THE PAST WEEK (April 17-24)
Havel Finishes Baltic Trip
President Vaclav Havel set out April 17 on a two-day official visit
to Lithuania. After receiving an honorary doctorate at the University of
Vilnius, the president gave a speech about relations between the West
and eastern European countries. He also met with the Lithuanian
President Algirdaus Brazauskas and former president Vitautas
Landsbergis.
Minister of Industry and Trade Vladimir Dlouhy, who accompanied the
president on his trip to the Baltics, signed a memorandum prefiguring
a bilateral free-trade agreement to be signed this year, Dlouhy said.
Havel visited Kaunas April 18, the second largest city in
Lithuania. He left for Tallin, Estonia, that evening, where a treaty
establishing a free-trade zone was signed by the Czech Republic and
Estonia. The president and the delegation, including a group of 20
businessmen, returned to the Czech Republic April 20.
Petra Rubesova, Zora Kasikova/Petra Rubesova
Head of Chinese Diplomacy Visits Prague
Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs Qien Qi-Qen came for
a three-day official visit to Prague April 20. He and Czech Minister of
Foreign Affairs Josef Zieleniec met to discuss the possibility of more
progressive bilateral trade, which came to 230 million USD in 1995. Qien
talked with Minister of Industry and Trade Vladimir Dlouhy the same day,
and in the evening met Prime Minister Vaclav Klaus in Prerov, in
Northern Moravia.
Czech President Vaclav Havel welcomed the Chinese minister April
22. Havel was concerned with the fates of Chinese dissidents, human
rights violations and also declared support for Chinese dialogue with
the Tibetan Dalai Lama. In response to human rights questions, Qien
responded that the solution begins in dialogue, not in confrontation.
Qien's visit was accompanied by a demonstration of about 50 people
in front of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, protesting against human
rights violations in China.
Natasa Hajkova/Petra Rubesova
Parliament Rejects Czech-Slovak Border Change
In spite of the governing coalition's parliamentary majority
overcoming strong opposition and approving April 23 the Czech-Slovak
border treaty, the border is not moving, for now.
The Constitutional amendment tied to the treaty was rejected by
Parliament the following day; a consititutional amendment requires
a two-thirds majority (120 of 200 deputies), and the coalition's 112
deputies did not suffice.
The opposition did not support the law because of its conviction
that the treaty will deprive some citizens of their native country. The
treaty's most sensitive point is the Moravian village U Sabotu, which is
supposed to become a part of Slovakia in spite of the fact that 38 out
of 120 village residents have Czech nationality.
Barbora Spevakova/Petra Rubesova
Latest Results of Voter Preference
The newest polls conducted by the Public Opinion Research Institute
(IVVM) and the Center for Empirical Research (STEM) have confirmed that
the most voter support belongs to the strongest governing party: the
Civic Democratic Party (ODS). IVVM reports that 25 per cent of voters,
and STEM 27 per cent, will vote for ODS. The strongest opposition party,
the Czech Social Democratic Party, follows with 16 per cent (IVVM) and
21 per cent (STEM). The polls see four other parties, with similar
levels of support, having a chance to make it into the next Parliament.
7 to 9 per cent of voters will probably vote for the Civic Democratic
Alliance, 9 or 8 per cent have said that they will vote for the
Christian Democratic Union-Czechoslovak People's Party; the Communist
Party of Bohemia and Moravia should receive 6 to 8 per cent of votes and
the far-right Association for the Republic-Republican Party of
Czechoslovakia is favored by 5 to 7 per cent of voters.
IVVM polls have shown a stable gap beteween ODS and the Social
Democrats in the past few months. However, STEM shows that ODS's lead
has decreased by 6 per cent.
Jaromir Vicari/Andrea Snyder
Moravia's Most Beautiful Girl Becomes Miss Czech Republic
Petra Minarova, an 18-year-old student from Olomouc, became this
year's Miss Czech Republic April 20 in Plzen. Iva Kubelkova, an
18-year-old student from Prague, was elected Vice-Miss. Zdenka
Zadrazilova took third and won Miss Congeniality. The girls absolved the
traditional competition combination: interview with the host, fashion
show, talent competition and the swimsuit competition. Minarova will be
flown to the Bahamas to represent the Czech Republic in Miss World, Iva
Kubelkova will compete in Miss Europe and Zdenka Zadrazilova will
participate in the Miss International competition in Japan.
Isar A.W./Andrea Snyder
Czechs Call Economic Development Biggest Problem
Seventeen per cent of Czechs say the development of the economy is
the most important problem in society today, reports an April poll
conducted by the Center for Empirical Research (STEM). Sixteen per cent
of those polled say social policy and crime are the biggest problems.
The healthcare system has moved up on the public's list of problem
priorities, from 5 per cent in 1995 to 14 per cent this year. The reason
for the increase in interest is increased media coverage of the area,
and is thus evaluated by the public as problematic.
Of those who said healthcare represents the most pressing crisis,
24 per cent also said they believe the ruling Civic Democratic Party
offers the best answers to the problem. The party has occupied the
Health Ministry since taking office, having shuffled three minsters in
four years.
Lucie Chytrackova/Andrea Snyder
Earth Day in Prague
In the past few years, Czech cities have been encountering more and
more various celebrations of Earth Day. Prague's "summer" weekend, April
20-1, saw a number of festivities. The Tereza Association prepared
entertainment for children and adults in Prokop Valley, where children
were able to try their hand at papermaking or creating wooden toys. The
Social Cultural Center in Prague's Dejvice neighborhood prepared a music
festival with rock concerts and and groups playing "ethnic" music.
The Children of the Earth held a concert in the Belmondo rock club,
where those "arriving on wheels" - skateboards, roller-skates and
scooters - got in for free. The environmental group the Green Circle
planted a tree during its "happening". The demonstration in front of the
Ministry of Transportation was more serious, protesting Prague's
transport policy.
Katerina Zachovalova/Andrea Snyder
Interest to Study at Charles University Greater Than Last Year
About 43,000 individuals applied to Charles University this year,
representing 8,275 more applications than last year. The largest number
of applications (8,188) was received by the College of Humanities
(Filozoficka fakulta), which also charges the highest application fee
- 450 crowns. About 1,000 hopefuls will be accepted to the college.
The College of Education (Pedagogicka Fakulta), with 7,261
applications, piled up the second highest stack of applications. It will
accept 1,200 applicants. The Law School, which received 6,430
applications, will accept probably the same number of people as last
year - 500.
The Faculty of Social Sciences recorded 4,397 applications. The
baccalaureate study of economics, with 1,423 applications, is the most
popular discipline, followed by journalism (1,305 applications),
international territorial studies (703), sociology (383) and political
science (264).
Livia Savelkova/Katerina Zachovalova
Economics University Applications
This year 9,796 people are interested in studying at Economics
University (VSE) in Prague, while about 2,500 applicants will be
accepted after succeeding on entrance exams in mathematics and a foreign
language.
The marketing and international relations departments received the
largest number of applications (2,505 and 1,878, respectively). The
Department of Information Studies and Statistics recorded the lowest
interest (1,080 applications).
The toughest entrance testing will be at the Department of Finance
and Accounting, which has the highest rate of applicants to those
accepted - 5.8 to 1.
Marketa Hudkova/Katerina Zachovalova
Patient with Creutzfeldt-Jacob Disease Probably in Olomouc
The neurology clinic of Olomouc's University Hospital registered
a 40-year-old man probably suffering from Creutzfeld-Jacob disease,
which has recently been often connected to England's mad cow disease.
This information was published by the local newspaper Hanacke noviny
April 20.
Doctors admit the possibility the man could have become infected
from eating beef or mutton. According to the State Veterinary
Administration this disease has not appeared in the Czech Republic since
1993.
The incurable Creutzfeld-Jacob disease, which can be transmitted by
cows and sheep and has as a symptom serious mental collapse, is very
difficult to diagnose. Jiri Ruprich, head of Brno's Food Chain Hygiene
Center of the State Health Institute in Prague, stated there has not
been a case of this disease recorded here in recent years.
Michaela Vysoudilova/Katerina Zachovalova
ECONOMY/BUSINESS
COOP Bank under Forced Administration
Brno's COOP Bank went under forced administration April 23, set by
the Czech National Bank (CNB). It is the sixth bank in the Czech
Republic placed under forced administration by the CNB. Bank customers,
however, need not worry about losing their savings, because the CNB has
offered COOP Bank a sufficiently large cover loan. "There is no need to
close branches and freeze deposits," said Martin Svehla, CNB spokesman
to Czech daily MF DNES April 23.
Tens of thousands of shareholders will be affected, because the CNB
decided to punish the poor management of the Brno bank with a drastic
decrease of its basic capital. Today's 500 million crowns should
decrease to 1 million, thus the share price will dive 500 times lower.
The CNB proceeded similarly with Ekoagrobanka in Usti nad Labem,
decreasing the bank's basic capital from 600 million crowns to 1.2
million. None of the first four banks placed under forced administration
(Credit and Industry Bank, Bohemia Bank, AB Bank and Czech Bank) has
survived.
Karel Bartek/Petra Sevcikova
Commerce Bank Submits Bankruptcy Proposal for Bohemia Art
Commerce Bank recently submitted to the Regional Trade Court in
Prague bankruptcy papers for Vladimir Stehlik's firm Bohemia Art, the
majority owner of Poldi Ocel steelworks.
The company did not pay 50 million crowns due to the bank by March
31, and the firm's request to delay payment by a month (submitted in an
open letter) was refused by bank General Director Richard Salzmann.
Commerce Bank provided Stehlik with an 850-million-crown loan to
privatize Poldi.
Stehlik said it is foremost a question of political interest to get
Poldi Ocel under the state control again.
Matej Husek/Petra Sevcikova
Exchange Rates at the Czech National Bank
(valid from April 26)
country currency
------------------------------------------
Australia 1 AUD 21.807
Belgium 100 BEF 88.399
Great Britain 1 GBP 41.962
Denmark 1 DKK 4.713
Finland 1 FIM 5.747
France 1 FRF 5.381
Ireland 1 IEP 43.246
Italy 1000 ITL 17.853
Japan 100 JPY 25.950
Canada 1 CAD 20.331
Luxemburg 100 LUF 88.399
Netherlands 1 NLG 16.229
Norway 1 NOK 4.234
New Zealand 1 NZD 18.943
Portugal 100 PTE 17.773
Austria 1 ATS 2.584
Greece 100 GRD 11.432
Slovakia 100 SKK 90.360
Germany 1 DEM 18.160
Spain 100 ESP 21.932
Sweden 1 SEK 4.107
Switzerland 1 CHF 22.475
USA 1 USD 27.757
ECU 1 XEU 34.218
SDR 1 XDR 40.153
CULTURE
FINALE for Czech Film, Czech Film in FINALE
The ceremonial announcement of award-winners ended the FINALE 1996
Festival of Czech Film March 19 in Pilsen (Plzen).
From 17 movies made since last April and shown at the festival, the
festival's four prizes were taken by two films. A special committee
chaired by actress Iva Janzurova gave the Golden Penguin top prize to
the movie Golet in the Valley (Golet v Udoli), the Spectator's Award
went to director Karel Kachyna's Fany. Readers of CINEMA magazine and
readers of Pilsen's daily paper chose best actor and actress.In the
men's category, the award was given to Ondrej Vetchy for his role in
Golet. In the woman's category, the prize, for the role of Fany, went to
Jirina Bohdalova.
In spite of the successful, ninth-annual festival, the interest of
spectators and producers, and overall stable financial backing, the
festival, which is the largest festival of domestic film, will have to
seriously reconsider its further existence.
The problem lies in the financial difficulties of the operator of
Pilsen's moviehouses, the company Filmcentrum. Because the privatization
contract between the Fund of National Property and Filmcentrum does not
include any specific mention of further theater operations or rights for
the fund, there are serious talks of closing down cinemas in Pilsen
operated by Filmcentrum. That would not only make it impossible to
continue the festival, but it would also mean that in a city of 170,000
inhabitants would remain one movie theater, which itself falls short on
capacity and technology.
However, as Pilsen mayor Zdenek Prosek said, "cinemas in Pilsen
will stay, even if City Hall has to build them again."
Michal Kubal/Petra Sevcikova
Influential People on Premiera TV
On April 24 the new documentary series V.I.P. - Influential People
began with a portrait of Milan Uhde, chairman of parliament and a former
dissident, on the private network Premiera TV. Its producer is the
independent TV company FEBIO, while the firm Christian V.I.P. is taking
part as well. The cycle is connected to the similar GEN - 100 Czechs of
Today and GENUS - 99 Czech lives, which is showing on Czech Television.
Its realization should complete original plan of FEBIO (which began with
GEN), "to compose and complete an audiovisual fresco about our age and
its people, about our society and its potential at the end of the 20th
century and the beginning of the third millenium."
The V.I.P. cycle will introduce personalities who have real power
in their hands, through which they influence society. It thus
particularly features entrepreneurs and prominent politicians. In the
first editions, viewers will see Petr Karas, general director of Czech
Energy; Jan Ruml, interior minister and a former dissident; and Dagmar
Lastovecka, the mayor of Brno (each part lasts 10 minutes). The cycle
also represents a big opportunity for about 80 Czech directors.
Matej Bartosek/Jitka Motejzikova
Exhibition of Jindrich Streit's Photographs in Prague
An exhibit of Czech photographer Jindrich Streit's work, called
People of Olomouc County, premiered in Prague's Archa Theater April 22.
Profesor Josef Jarab, rector of Olomouc's Palacky University, delivered
the opening remarks. A performance on the flute by the artist's daughter
Monika enlivened the opening. Olomuc's traditional curds were stylishly
served.
Livia Klausova, the prime minister's Slovak spouse, attended the
debut. "Some time ago I had seen Streit's book of photographs which
interested me so, that I accepted the invitation for this opening.
I very much like his pictures, they are simply about us," she said for
Carolina.
Streit (b. 1946), who lives and works in Sovinec, a village of 28
residents, concentrates on capturing everyday life. His photographs were
published at dozens of exhibitions at home and abroad, and are
represented in many world collections. The photographs shown in Archa
were taken in 1993-4.
Darina Coufalova, Michaela Vysoudilova/Jitka Motejzikova
Czech-German Culture Program in Prague
From April 18-28 Prague is hosting the Czech-German cultural
program Marionettes in action (Loutky v akci). The Goethe Institute has
organized an exhibit of wooden marionettes by Michaela Bartonova and
Antonin Muller, lectures about the new theater trends in Germany as well
as interwievs with Czech and German artists. The Dejvice Theater, recent
recipients of an embarrassment of 1995 theater-award riches, is
performing Spoonriver Anthology (adapted from E.L. Masters' book), while
their guests, the Salz und Pfeffer Theater from Nuremberg, is performing
Farmer Giles from Ham (freely adapted from J.R.R. Tolkien).
Lucie Dvorakova/Petra Sevcikova
SPORT
Excellent Entrance of Czech Hockey Players at World Championship
In the first two games at the World Championships, the Czechs beat
two of last year's finalists - Sweden and Finland. Goalies Turek and Ahl
capably handled the first two periods of the Swedish-Czech game, not
letting anything pass them by. In the final period, the Swedes placed
the first goal, which only spurred the Czechs on to a 3-1 victory. After
one day of rest, the Czechs met the Finns on the ice. After winning the
first two, the Czechs tied the last period.
Final scores: Czech Republic - Sweden: 3-1 (0-0, 0-0, 3-1)
Goals: Reichel, Prochazka, Ujcik - Sjodin
Czech Republic - Finland: 4-2 (1-0, 2-1, 1-1)
Goals: Lang, Kaberle, Ujcik, Kucera - Rihijarvi, Selanne
Czech Republic - Norway: 2-2 (after deadline)
Adam Kotalik/Andrea Snyder
Slavia Shakes Competition Off
In the 25th round, Slavia faced the weakest team in the league,
Uherske Hradiste. Still, Slavia was weakened by an injury to one of its
best players, Lubos Kozel. Slavia was victorious, and the Slavia's two
closest competitors, Olomouc and Drnovice, lost, respectively in Pilsen
(Plzen) and Olomouc.
Results: Sparta - Opava 1-1, Uherske Hradiste - Slavia 0-2, Plzen
- Olomouc 2-0, Ceske Budejovice - Liberec 0-0, Drnovice - Brno 2-3, Cheb
- Zizkov 2-2, Ostrava - Hradec 2-0, Jablonec - Zlin 1-0
Standings after 25 rounds (3 matches still unplayed): 1. Slavia 55
(-1); 2. Olomouc 49; 3. Drnovice 45; 4. Jablonec 44 (-1); 5. Sparta 40;
6. Opava 37; 7. Liberec 34 (-1); 8. Plzen 33 (-1); 9. Zizkov 32; 10.
Ceske Budejovice 32; 11. Boby Brno 31 (-1); 12. Ostrava 29 (-1); 13.
Cheb 29; 14. Hradec Kralove 22; 15. Zlin 18; 16. Uherske Hradiste 13.
David Sprincl/Andrea Snyder
Czech Republic not Dazzling, but Sufficient
The Czech team beat the Irish 2-0 in a friendly game April 24 at
Strahov Stadium, with 6,000 spectators present. The first half of the
last home prep game before the Czechs head off for the World
Championships in England was not too hot. Kuka and Drulak's combinations
were lamely lucky, while the Irishmen used simpler plays, which worked
better, although even they could not score any goals, either.
In the second half Kadlec and Nemecek were replaced by Kubik and
Bejbal. The game got better, and goals were scored. Kuka passed the ball
to Frydek, who scored on an empty net. Kuka scored the second, as well,
getting past the Irish goalie. Nedved, Rada and Kerbr earned a place on
the starting line in England. It was nice to win, but the playing
(especially in the first half) would probably not have been enough to
beat stronger competition, which will await the Czech team in England.
Basic squad: Kouba - Repka, Kadlec, Hornak - Latal, Frydek, Gerger,
Nemecek, Hapal, - Kuka, Drulak.
Karel Bartek/Andrea Snyder
WEATHER During the week the winter weather almost changed into summer.
In the mountains snow is melting, at lower altitudes temperatures rose
on the weekend and first two days of this week to 25 degrees Celsius/77
degrees Fahrenheit. The record at Prague's Clementinum for April 23 (set
in 1968) of 28.5 degrees Celsius/83 degrees Fahrenheit was broken. All
the trees have broken out in green, violets, daffodils, tulips and other
fragrant flowers are blooming and people have maybe definitively left
their coats and sweaters behind.
Jitka Hejtmanova, Petra Mrzena/Petra Sevcikova
English version edited by Michael Bluhm
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